For some reason (and there are already many threads dedicated to trying to figure out why) SR is not supposed to be employed with tripod work. When you use the camera's self-timer (the only "traditional" way to get mirror lock up) the camera assumes you're using a tripod and so automatically switches off SR.

Although you're right in saying the mirror is out of the way during Live View sessions I would doubt that SR would be disabled in the same fashion. You can check this for yourself though by simply entering LV and then switching SR on and off, if it hasn't been disabled then you should see the image on the screen stabilise. I don't have a K7 (or K20D) of my own to check with unfortunately.

That hair is something else!

Depends on the type of portrait to a certain extent; I've got the FA43 Ltd which is great for upper body portraits (or couples / small groups) and the FA77 Ltd which is better for head & shoulders shots.

If money doesn't quite stretch to the Limiteds then Don's suggestion of the FA50 / D-FA100 would also give excellent results.

They're the same physical size but they have different pixel counts (so the individual pixels on the 6MP sensor are larger than those on the 14MP sensor)

I'm not suprised the Km gave great results as it has the same sensor as the K10D, a camera I've never been less than delighted with

Well I am irresistable...

Soligor made a reasonable 135/2.8 so if the mount happened to have one of those attached to it it wouldn't be the end of the world...

Out of interest (and not owning any DA* lenses myself) can you switch between focussing modes on the 60-250? Or are you stuck with just SDM focussing?

It strikes me that the screw drive method, although noisier, could actually be quicker.

Me too weather permitting

If you bought it from a Pentax Pro Dealer then you'll have a two year warranty, otherwise it'll only be one year. Either way spare parts are still readily obtainable for a K10D so getting it fixed shouldn't be a problem, it'll just be a case of whether (and how much) you have to pay.

First time I've heard of one of these breaking to be honest so you've been rather unlucky!

I got the email but I hadn't actually noticed the lens until you pointed it out (being a bit of a font nerd I was mesmerised by the use of Copperplate Gothic in the title - that's may excuse anyway ).

Seems like Pentax Marketing, although improving, still aren't quite on the ball just yet...